Flat lighting fixture

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a multifunctional lighting fixture having at least one fluorescent lamp mounted inside a flat lighting fixture housing comprised of two rectangular frames. Each frame consists of preferably only one lateral wing running parallel to the fluorescent lamp, and front wings situated therebetween, whereby spacer elements and edged spacer edge connectors hold the lateral wings and front wings of both frames at a predetermined distance. The lighting fixture can be combined in many ways both during initial assembly as well as for a subsequent conversion and can be assembled in the form of a built-on lamp or suspended lamp, a vertically or horizontally mounted wall lamp, floor lamp. standing lamp or cable lighting fixture without modifying the base body of the lighting fixture. In addition, different light distributing elements can be used in an exchangeable manner so that the light is both directly oriented onto a useful surface as well as deflected in an indirect and preferably colored manner. Additional light sources, e.g. high-voltage halogen spotlights can be freely attached. The lighting fixture constitutes, with standardized elements, a flat light fixture design that is, on the whole, aestheticaily appealing.

The invention relates to a luminaire having at least one luminous meansin a flatly constructed luminaire housing composed of two rectangularframes. Such luminaires are known and described, for example, in DE 20105 443 U1.

However, these luminaires have a relatively large overall height. It isalso a disadvantage that the luminaires available on the market aredesigned only for precisely one type of mounting. It is thereforeimpossible to subsequently change the function of the same luminaire anduse the latter for other types of mounting without changing its basicbody in the process.

A further disadvantage is the complicated production of such luminaires.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to form a luminaireof the type mentioned at the beginning such that the luminaire can becombined in many ways both when first being mounted and for a laterrededication, and can be mounted as a build-on or suspended luminaire, avertically or horizontally arranged wall luminaire, a floor luminaire,standard luminaire or wire luminaire without altering the basic body ofthe luminaire in the process.

An object in this case is to be able to use various light distributionelements exchangeably such that the light both is guided directly onto auseful surface and is deflected indirectly and preferably in a coloredfashion, and that further light sources such as high-voltage halogenradiators for example, can also be freely attached.

A further object in this case is that it is also possible to usestandardized elements even for a particularly flat luminaire design, inorder to obtain an esthetically filigreed luminaire.

These objects are achieved by means of the features of the luminaire asclaimed in claim 1. Special embodiments of the present invention are tobe gathered from the subclaims.

Various exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in moredetail below with the aid of drawings.

FIG. 1 shows in perspective an embodiment of a luminaire on a wiresuspension as a suspended version.

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b show two embodiments of the luminaire in transverse andlongitudinal section.

FIG. 3 shows further details of an embodiment in cross section.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b show in perspective further details of the front wings oftwo embodiments of the luminaire.

FIGS. 5-7 show in perspective various types of mounting for embodimentsof the luminaire.

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a perspective illustration of theluminaire 1, obliquely from above. The luminaire has a flatlyconstructed and longitudinally extending luminaire housing 3 with twoframes 4, 4′ that are held at a constant and fixed spacing with the aidof spacer elements 8, Ba and angled spacer corner connectors 9.

The spacer elements and/or angled spacer corner connectors can for thispurpose firstly be connected in one piece to the corresponding wings, orsecondly also consist of separately fabricated pieces.

Located in the middle region of the frame in the longitudinal directionof the luminaire housing is a profile 10 that firstly holds the devicessuch as ballast 12, clamping and plug-in connectors and, furthermore, atthe same time, serves as cable duct for laying and guiding cables. Thisprofile is, for example, a U profile or a square profile, and ispreferably arranged in a fashion detachably mounted on the transversesides of the frame 4, for example, with the aid of matched retainingangles 10′. The profile has ends cut in a mitred fashion, for example.

In one exemplary embodiment, longitudinally running fluorescent lamps 2are arranged left and right next to the profile 10. In the case of aceiling connection, the luminaire 1 is suspended with two or, asillustrated, with four wires. In a further mounting version, theluminaire 1 can be fastened directly on the ceiling by means of screwswith the aid of the mounting bores 21 on the profile 1.

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b show two embodiments of the luminaire, both in crosssection, that is to say looking onto the front wings, and inlongitudinal section. The cross section shows that the two frames 4, 4′are held at a defined spacing from one another with the aid of spacerelements 8, 8 a and angled spacer corner connectors 9, and thereforeform a hollow chamber.

Light windows 4 a in which the light radiates from inside to outside areformed in the longitudinal view (below) in both figures.

FIG. 2 a shows an embodiment in the case of which wings, spacer elementsand angled spacer corner connectors are assembled cost effectively fromstandard elements that must, however, each be procured and stored perse.

For the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 b wings are connected to one anotherin one piece, in a fashion drawn over a web, the web only being milledout after that in a suitable way to form a light window 4 a so that thespacer elements and angled spacer corner connectors are substantially ofthe same shape, as a result of which the stability of the luminaire 1 issubstantially increased and storage and mounting are also facilitated.

FIG. 3 shows further details of such an embodiment, spacer elements atthe ends of the lateral wings being provided at least there ascounterpart for connecting the two frames, preferably with the aid offrame screws 5 b. The material of the frames can be freely selected.

Translucent or opaque plastic, any desired metal, or else a combinationof the materials is advantageous as the material. The surface can beanodized, varnished, powder-coated, or chrome plated.

The cross-sectional profile of the frame is preferably that of a solidflat material. The surface should be designed such that it is possibleto form reflective surfaces 7, 7′ that deflect light diffusely andcouple it out all around effectively from the frame. If the width of oneor more of the lateral wings and front wings of one frame is greaterthan that of the corresponding other frame, the emerging light isvisible in a particularly effective way.

To deflect and couple out light in a colored fashion, it is possible forcolored light distribution elements 13 to be pushed into and fastened inthe hollow chamber or a specified constant spacer region between themutually facing and, possibly, elegantly curved surfaces 7, 7′ on allsides of the luminaire housing, said light distribution elementspreferably being in contact with the spacer elements 8 and angled spacercorner connectors 9. If such light distribution elements 13 are alsoused instead of the spacer holders, they can take over the function ofthe latter and are denoted in the drawings as 8 a. The lightdistribution elements 13 are optionally only present between theopposing lateral wings of the two frames, or they form a closedcircumferential unit of the luminaire 1. A further light distributiondevice 14 extends below the fluorescent lamps 2 and is inserted withouttools at edge holders, for example, with the aid of two mountingprofiles 26 in the lower frame 4, with the aid of which the light isguided downward with direct distribution onto the useful surface. Thelight distribution device 14 can be produced from any desired material,such as plexiglass, and can have a geometric or prismatic scatteringstructure. For this purpose, the light distribution device can beprovided on its underside with a suitable scattering structure, forexample, with a grooved or prismatic structure, such that the light canpropagate diffusely or with suppression of glare. On the other hand, itcan also be a profile structure having a multiplicity of opticallyrefracting surfaces by which the light is likewise diffusely scattered.

The cross section of the U profile 10 with a ballast 12 fastened thereinis arranged approximately in the middle.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b show two embodiments having front wings 6, 6′,preassembled on the spacer corner connectors 9 of the two frames 4, 4′,the mounts 11 preferably applied from the outside for two longitudinallyrunning fluorescent lamps 2 and a bore for fastening a U profile 10.

FIG. 5 shows a wall luminaire as variant embodiment with a mountingexample.

Two fastening bolts 19 are mounted on the wall with a flange and ascrew. The fastening bolts 19 preferably have a square cross sectionwith the same outside dimensions as the inside dimension of the hollowchamber, and therefore fit one another exactly. The fastening bolts arefastened between the frames, 4, 4′ of the luminaire 1 by means of aclamping screw 18 in the threaded bore 16′. Ideally, use is made in thiscase of the threaded bore that also serves, inter alia, for fasteningthe wire suspension.

FIG. 6 shows (right-hand image) as a further mounting example, a wallluminaire that is fastened on the wall by means of two matchingfastening angles 28, preferably with the aid of one screw each. Thefastening angles have in cross section a U profile of special dimensionsuch that the luminaire 1 can be suspended on a lateral wing or frontwing. The luminous means of the luminaire are thus suspended runningvertically or horizontally like a picture and independently of whetherthe lateral wings are longer than the front wings or not.

FIG. 6 shows also (left-hand image) as a further mounting example, astandard luminaire with two fastening bolts 19 on a base plate 29. Thefastening bolts preferably have a square cross section, their outsidedimensions being equal in an accurately fitting fashion with the innerspacing between the frames 4, 4′ (preferably approximately 10 mm).

As a further variant embodiment, FIG. 7 shows a luminaire fastened ontwo clamping wires, two special clamping wires 22 as carriers of theluminaire 1 being clamped with the aid of clamping elements from wall towall or from ceiling to floor. With this variant, supply is performedvia a spiral cable 23 that is guided on a third clamping wire 22. Theluminaire 1 can therefore be flexibly displaced freely in space in thedirection of the clamping wire 22. Guides for the clamping wire arepresent in the luminaire along the spacer corner connectors 9 below theupper frame 4 and in a cutout of the profile. The clamping wire 22′present in the middle above the U profile 10 is guided on the wireholder 30 and secured. However, the spiral cable 23 can also simply beguided along a special clamping wire 22 serving as carrier of theluminaire 1.

The embodiments described with the aid of the figures are not to beunderstood as an exhaustive listing for the design of the inventionclaimed. Thus, a recumbent floor luminaire (not shown) is provided as afurther mounting example, the luminaire being situated on four spacerfeet that are not screwed with the aid of the threaded bores 15. Afurther mounting example (not shown) is a suspended luminaire as in FIG.1, but suspended in the longitudinal direction on only two wires andmounted hanging vertically. If necessary, it is also possible to makeuse in addition of conventional components (not shown) to secure theluminaire 1 against slippage of the clamping wire. A further example ofapplication is for the luminaire, which is extremely versatile despiteits simple and cost-effective design, to be operated together withauxiliary units and thus, for example, as a suspended luminaire with twohigh-voltage radiators 24 2 (4×)×50 W/230 V. In this case, radiators inthe form preferably of clamping reflector luminaires or the like arefastened on the upper flat frame 4 of the luminaire 1. They areconnected electrically to the luminaire with the aid of a plug-incontact element 25, and can thus be operated jointly with the luminaire.It is particularly easy to make a fastening also on any projectingwings. For example, the width of the lateral wings 5 and/or of the frontwings 6 of one frame 4 may be seen to extend beyond the width of thecorresponding wings 5′, 6′ of the other frame 4′ and thereby brings tobear in a particularly effective way the colored light distributionelements used.

A further example of application is a standard luminaire (not shown),the luminaire being held as usual between the frames with the aid ofaccurately fitting bolts and a support structure.

Two fluorescent lamps or high-voltage halogen lamps or metal-vapor lampsor LED lighting elements are preferably provided as luminous means 2 inthe mounts 11 of the front wings 6, 6′.

The light distribution device 14 can be an opaque cover plate that ismounted as a reflector next to the profile 10. Another embodiment is,for example, a luminous array having longitudinally running reflectorsand transversely running louvres, or a plastic plate having a number ofhollow chambers running in the longitudinal direction or havingprismatic structures in a plexialass plate.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Luminaire-   2 Luminous means-   3 Luminaire housing-   4, 4′ (Upper, lower) frame-   4 b Frame screw-   5, 5 a, 5′, 5 a′ Lateral wings-   5 b Light window lateral wing-   6, 6 a, 6′, 6 a′ Front wings-   6 b Light window front wing-   7, 7′ Mutually facing surfaces-   8, 8 a Spacer elements-   9, 9 a Angled spacer corner connectors-   10 U profile-   10′ Retaining angle.-   11 Mounts-   12 Ballast-   13 Light distribution elements-   14 Light distribution device-   15 Threaded bore-   16 Wire suspension-   16′Threaded bore-   17 Spacer feet-   18 Clamping screw-   19 Fastening bolts for wall or base plate mounting-   21 Mounting bores-   22 Clamping wire 1+2-   22′Clamping wire 3-   23 High-voltage spiral cable 230 V-   24 External light sources-   25 Plug-in contact element-   26 Mounting profile-   28 Fastening angle wall mounting vertical-   29 Base plate-   30 Wire holder

1. A luminaire having at least one luminous means in a flatlyconstructed luminaire housing consisting of two rectangular frames withlongitudinal and transverse sides, characterized in that each frame iscomposed of lateral wings parallel to the at least one luminous means,and front wings transverse thereto, in that the mutually facing surfacesof the two frames are substantially constructed as reflective surfaces,in that spacer elements keep the opposing lateral wings of the twoframes at a prescribed spacing, in that in each case two angled spacercorner connectors interconnect the respectively opposing front wings ofthe two frames and thus support the connection of the front wings to theassociated side wings of the corresponding frame at the prescribedspacing, in that a profile is fastened on a frame in order to reinforcethe luminaire housing, and in that mounts for the at least one luminousmeans are fastened on the front wings of the reinforced frame.
 2. Aluminaire as claimed in claim 1, in which, in addition to or instead ofspacer elements, light distribution elements are pushed in between themutually facing surfaces of the lateral wings and/or front wings suchthat light exits laterally from the luminaire housing and substantiallyall around in a diffuse fashion as preferably colored light.
 3. Aluminaire as claimed in claim 1, in which the angled spacer cornerconnectors, can be detachably connected to the associated lateral wingsof the corresponding frame by butting and/or by form-fitting and/or bymeans of the spacer elements.
 4. A luminaire as claimed in claim 1, inwhich, acting as a cable duct on the reinforced frame of the luminairehousing, the profile also holds auxiliary units.
 5. A luminaire asclaimed in claim 1, in which a light distribution device is additionallyarranged along the at least one luminous means on the luminaire housingsuch that light is predominantly guided directly and in a substantiallyneutral fashion on to a useful surface.
 6. A luminaire as claimed inclaim 5, in which the light distribution device consists of a scatteringmaterial or is coated therewith, and has a geometric scatteringstructure.
 7. A luminaire as claimed in claim 1, in which the luminairehousing consists of metal or plastic or both and is composed of in eachcase unipartite flat lateral wings and front wings with an essentiallyrectangular cross sectional profile.
 8. A luminaire as claimed in claim1, in which the angled spacer corner connectors and lateral wings areformed as a receptacle and in order to guide a clamping wire such thatthe luminaire can be freely displaced in space in the wire direction. 9.A luminaire as claimed in claim 1, in which threaded bores for fasteningelements preferably of reinforced frames are prepared for mountingpurposes, mounting bores preferably in the profile.
 10. A luminaire asclaimed in claim 1, in which the angled spacer corner connectors areformed such that they project beyond the front wings below the lateralwings.
 11. A luminaire as claimed in claim 1, in which the in each casetwo angled spacer corner connectors together with the respectivelyopposing front wings are formed in one piece.